Control for alarm watches



y 2, 1951 R. DITISHEIM 2,554,402

CONTROL FOR ALARM WATCHES Filed March 28, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 27 7 are/aga 70 3 52/ZZZ-lf/665/7Q R. DBTHSHEIM CONTROL FOR ALARM WATCHES May 22, 1951 Filed March 28, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Java/ 5 765g; K366257265 7 May 22, 1951 R. DITKSHEEM 2,554,402

CONTROL FOR ALARM WATCHES Filed March 28, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 22, 1951 CONTROL FOR ALARM WATCHES Robert Ditisheim, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, assignor to Ditisheim & Cie, Fabriques Vulcain et Volta,..La Ghaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application March 28, 1946,. Serial No, 657,819 In Switzerland April 20, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690', August 8, 1946 Patent expires April 20, 1963 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to analarm watch comprising a single winding-up and hand-setting crown, the hand-setting and the setting of the alarm hand of which are efiected by rotating the winding-up crown.

The.- alarm watch according to the invention is characterised by such safety means that a mistake by the user can cause'no damage to the mechanism. The safety means employed especially are designed to avoid the creation, by misuse, of a discrepancy between the hour indicated by the alarm hand and the actual time of the release of. the alarm by the release mechanism.

The appended drawing represents, in the .way of examples, two-embodimentsof the alarm watch to which the invention relates.

Figure l is a plan as seen from the dial side, of the first embodiment, representing the members in the winding-up position.

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1, but representing the members in the position for setting the hands of the watch.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Figure 1, but representing the members in the position for setting the alarm hand.

Figure 4 is also a similar view to Figure 1, but representing the members in the position for locking the. alarm-work.

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure l, but. representing a second embodiment with the members in the winding-up position.

The first embodiment concerns an alarm watch with two barrels comprising the familiar members of the wheelwork of the movement, of the wheelwork of the alarm, as well as the release wheel concentric to the hour-wheel bearing the hour-hand and co-operating with the latter. These members are not represented with the exception of the anchor actuated by the last wheel of the alarm wheelwork.

The castle pinion 3 meshes, in. the hand-setting position (Figure 2), with an intermediate wheel 6.. On the stud of, this intermediate wheel, pivots a yoke l2 bearing two intermediate wheels I and II. The wheel 7 co-operates with the hand-setting wheelwork-via, an intermediate wheel 8, the minute-wheel 9 meshing with the canon-pinion 2|. The minute-wheel bears the minute-pinion 9' meshing with the hour-wheel not shown. The intermediate wheel I l is intended to actuate the alarm-hand-s-hifting wheelwork (generally called, incorrectly, the setting of the alarm)-i. e., in this case, simply the release wheel I0 when this wheelwork is brought into gear with this wheel.

The yoke I2 is subject to the action of a leaf;- spring l5 carried by a lever l4 pivoting at 22. The spring l5 acts, in the example represented; on the yoke I12 through the medium of two pins lZa, I21), borne by the yoke. The lever 14 cooperates with a push-piece l3, a yoke holder spring ll with three notches, with the alarm anchor l'8 and with the setting lever 4, which cooperates in the usual manner with a yoke holder spring [6. This member It differs, however, from the ordinary yoke holder spring in that it p0ssesses, between the two extreme positions, an intermediate position of rest 5a. The push-piece I3 is always actuated by pressure and never by pulling. The members 16 and I! form a double yoke holder spring in a single piece.

In this first embodiment, the alarm hand is borne by the: release wheel [0 and pivots at the centre of the movement, on the same geometrical axis'as the hour and minute hands.

Figure 1 represents the normal winding-up position. In one direction, the rotation of the winding-stem I efiects the Winding-up of the mainspring barrel; in the reverse direction, it eifects the winding-up of the alarm barrel. In this position, stem l is geared to winding pinion '2 under the. influence of lever 5. Pinion 2 connects by suitable gear trains to both mainspring and alarm-spring barrels (not shown) To set the hands of the watch, the stem l is pulled, which brings the members into the positi'onshown in Figure 2. The pulling out of stem l brings: setting lever 4 into contact with lever 5. which in turn depresses castle pinion 3 into meshing engagement with gear 6. The handsetting should be done in only the one direction corresponding to. the arrow 6a and, if the winding-stem is made to rotate in this direction, the tangential reactions of the gear-trains 6-7 and 1-8 tend to keep the yoke 12 in its normal position; this position is determined by the pressure of thespring 15 against a stop which is, in this particular case, the setting lever 4 If the user makes a mistake in the direction, these tangential reactions tend, on the contrary, to bring the yoke away from its normal position and this. is easily obtained by suitably choosing the shape of the teeth and the characteristic-0f the spring l5. A mere unmeshing is then producedi. e., the intermediate wheel I no longer turns the wheel 3 and the succeeding ones and no damage can be done to the mechanism, and this is precisely one of the aims-of the invention. It is feasible, however, if it is desired to set the hands in either direction, todetermine the position of the moving parts, the profile of their teeth and the characteristic of the spring l5 so that this handsetting in the reverse direction is possible until a stronger resistance intervenes.

The hand setting of the alarm-hand is effected, starting from the normal position as shown in Figure 1, by pressing the push-piece l3 right home, which actuates the lever l4, and then the latter actuates the setting lever 4, etc., so that the members assume the position represented in Figure 3. The yoke I2 then occupies such a position that the intermediate wheel I! meshes with the release wheel l0 and turns it in the direction of the arrow Illa. For the same reasons as those described in the case of the hand-setting of the watch, this driving can only take place in the prescribed direction, and a mistake by the user causes only an umneshing of the wheel II from the teeth of the wheel I0. However, as in the case of the hand-setting of the watch, the mechanism may, if desired, be so constructed that the pointing of the alarmhand is also possible in the reverse direction up to the limit imposed by a given resistance.

In the position for hand-setting the alarmhand, the lever l4 locks the anchor l8 and prevents the alarm from ringing.

Figure 4 represents the members in the position for locking the alarm-work. This position is obtained, starting from the normal position (Figure l), by pressing the push-piece l3 so that the pin I la of the lever l4 pivoting round 22 takes its place in the notch 24 of the yoke holder spring H. To avoid an involuntary passage to the position represented in Figure 3, a less resistant movement is provided for from the notch 23 to the notch 24 than from the notch 24 to the notch 25 of the yoke holder spring ll. The lever [4 also actuates the spring lever, the yoke and the castle pinion and, through the spring IS, the yoke l2. This function is both for stopping the alarm already set ringing and for preventively locking the alarm-work.

In this intermediary position (Figure 4), the lever l4 limits the travel of the anchor l8 and locks the alarm-work. The castle pinion occupies an intermediate position and meshes neither with the intermediate wheel 6 nor with the winding pinion 2. The yoke l2 also occupies an intermediate position in which neither the intermediate wheel ll nor the intermediate wheel 1 meshes with the respective wheelworks.

In all possible positions of the mechanism, it suflices, for returnin to the normal position (Figure 1) to push home the winding-up crown.

If, after having left the push-piece l3 in the position for locking the alarm-work, the user forgets to return to the normal position, he will immediately notice it when he wishes to wind up the watch, for in this position (Figure 4) the winding-stem l turns idly. He rapidly will get into the habit of pushing home the windingup crown so as to be sure it is in the right posi tion.

The mechanism described, while allowing the rapid shifting of the alarm-hand, is fool-proof inasmuch as any wron movement by the user cannot damage it. It will be observed that the safety means render harmless any misuse which otherwise might cause a discrepancy between the hour indicated by the alarm-hand and the actual time at which the alarm goes oil.

In the embodiment represented in Figure 5, all the functions are identical with those of the first example, except for the differences indicated below. The corresponding parts are numbered as in the first example with the addition of I00.

The intermediate wheel I0! works alternately with the hand-setting wheelwork and with the wheelwork for pointing the alarm-hand.

The spring H5 acts on the yoke H2 through an entry in the latter. The alarm-hand pivots at I26, so that the dial may bear a small decentered graduated disc reserved for the alarmhand. I21 indicates the hour-wheel.

This second embodiment presents the same advantages as the first.

Many other embodiments are feasible and applicable to movements of all sizes. The invention can be adapted equally well to movements with a single spring-box and to those with two spring-boxes.

What I claim is:

1. In an alarm watch, a watch case carrying a single stem for winding the watch and for selectively shifting the time hands and alarm indicator; a castle pinion slidably mounted on said stem inside the case; an intermediate wheel; means to move said castle pinion into engagement with said intermediate wheel; a yoke rockably mounted on the axis of said intermediate wheel and carrying gear means in constant mesh with said intermediate wheel; a gear train for adjusting the time hands, a gear train for adjusting the alarm indicator; and means for moving the yoke for selectively engaging said gear means carried by the yoke with either the time hands gear train or the alarm indicator gear train, said means comprising a push piece carried by the case movable to a plurality of predetermined positions, and a resilient member operatively connected to said push piece and said yoke, in one position of said push piece said resilient member moving the yoke toward the time hands gear train and yieldingly engaging the yoke gear means therewith, and in another position of said push piece said resilient member moving the yoke toward the alarm indicator gear train and yieldingly engaging the yoke gear means therewith.

2. In an alarm Watch, a watch case carrying a single stem for winding the watch and for selectively shifting the time hands and alarm indicator; a castle pinion slidably mounted on said stem inside the case; an intermediate wheel; means to move said castle pinion into engagement with said intermediate wheel; a yoke rockably mounted on the axis of said intermediate wheel and carrying gear means in constant mesh with said intermediate wheel; a gear train for adjusting the time hands; a gear train for adjusting the alarm indicator; and means for moving the yoke for selectively engaging said gear means carried by the yoke with either the time hands gear train or the alarm indicator gear train, said means comprising a push piece carried by the case movable to a plurality of predetermined positions, and a resilient member operatively connected to said push piece and said yoke, in one position of said push piece said resilient means moving the yoke toward the time hand gear train and yieldingly engaging the yoke gear means therewith, in a second position of said push piece said resilient member moving the yoke toward the alarm indicator gear train and yieldingly engaging the yoke gear means therewith, and in a third neutral position of said push piece said resilient member holding the yoke and yoke gear means out of engagement with either gear train.

3. In an alarm Watch, a watch case carrying a single stem for Winding the watch and for selectively shifting the time hands and alarm indicator; a castle pinion slidably mounted on said steminside the case; an intermediate wheel; means to move said castle pinion into engagement with said intermediate wheel; a yoke rockably mounted on the axis of said intermediate wheel and carryin gear means in con stant mesh with said intermediate wheel; a gear train for adjusting the time hands; a gear train for adjusting the alarm. indicator; and means for moving the yoke for selectively engaging said gear means carried by the yoke with either the time hands gear train or the alarm indicator gear train, said means comprising a push piece carried by the case movable to a plurality of predetermined positions, a shift lever connected to said push piece, a spring carried by said lever and operatively connected to said yoke, in one position of said push piece said spring influencing said yoke toward the time hands gear train and yieldingly engaging the yoke gear means therewith, and in another position of said push piece said spring moving the yoke toward the alarm indicator gear train and yieldingly engaging the yoke gear means therewith.

4. The mechanism according to claim 3, further including an alarm lock lever held in inoperative position by contact with the lever connected to the push piece when said shift lever and push piece are in the position for connecting the time hands gear train with the yoke gear means.

5. In an alarm watch, a watch case carrying a single stem for winding the watch and for selectively shifting the time hands and alarm indicator; a winding pinion rotatably mounted in said stem for winding the watch; a castle pinion slidably mounted on said stemfor meshing engagement with said Winding pinion or with an intermediate wheel mounted adjacent the castle pinion; a setting lever connected to the stem for engaging or disengaging said castle pinion with said intermediate wheel; a yoke rockably mounted on the axis of said intermediate wheel and carrying gear means in con stant mesh with said intermediate wheel; a gear train for adjusting the time hands; a gear train for adjusting the alarm indicator; means for moving the yoke for selectively engaging said gear means carried by the yoke with either the time hand gear train or the alarm indicator gear train, said means comprising a push piece carried by the case movable to a predetermined position, a shift lever connected to said push piece, a spring carried by said lever and oper atively ccnnected to said yoke, in one position oi said push piece said spring influencing said yoire toward the time hands gear train and yieldingly en aging the yoke gear means therewith, and in another position of said push piece said spring moving the yoke toward the alarm indicator gear train and yieldingly engaging the yoke gear means therewith; said shift lever connected to the push piece and said setting lever connected to the stem each having an arm swingable'into engagement with each other for relative movement of the one by the other.

6. The mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the arm on said shift lever bears on the arm of the setting lever to mesh the castle pinion with said intermediate wheel, and wherein the arm on the setting lever bears on the arm of the shift lever to move said lever, spring, yoke and yo :e gear means in position for operating the time hand gear train.

ROBERT DITISHEIM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 528,796 Nunam-aker Nov. 6, 1894 543,048 Nunamaker July 23, 1895 1,098,369 De Witt June 2, 1914 1,445,159 Orr Feb. 13, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,068 Great Britain of 1856 29,468/501 Switzerland Mar. 29, 1904 42,201 Switzerland Sept. 28, 1907 

